Anita Perry

1. With my background in management in the public sector, including in the education field, after retiring in Sandpoint 12 years ago I started regularly attending school board meetings. I realized that a real divide exists in the community over the important decisions rendered by the board. I would like to improve communication with the public to help heal that divide.

2. In my many contacts with residents I learned that they are barely aware of the board and the issues it deals with until final decisions like levies have been made. I would like to remedy this lack of information, from which discord tends to ensue.

3. I have 20 years management experience at the School of Education, Cal State San Bernardino, and two large California police departments. These positions required organizational and analytical skills, budgeting experience, staff management, developing and implementing policies, and ongoing communication with different levels of government as well as elected officials and the public.

4. First, continue to improve academic performance and job preparation for college-bound students and those who prefer going directly into the work environment. Second, improve communication with the community by asking for input and publicizing board meetings. That will help in formulating both short-term and long-range plans for programs and facilities.

5. Time and again, it’s about communication. curriculum, coursework that prepares students to go confidently into a field of their choice, supplemental and plant facility levies are some of the issues where the community needs to be better informed and should have input.

6. I routinely support fundraisers for the school’s extracurricular activities. During my tenure as president of the Bonner County Republican Women we issued a $1,000 scholarship to a Sandpoint High School student, and I fully support these scholarships.

7. The school board is the “education watchdog” for the community. It oversees the academic and fiscal aspects of the district and works closely with the administration to gain as much insight as possible so informed decisions can be made.

I am able to devote as much time as necessary to the position because I am retired.

8. Top-down federal and state education requirements and mandates tend to erode local control of educators and are costly. I would like to see the district carefully evaluate new theories being touted, and if not convinced of being in the best interest of students rather than distant bureaucracies, to opt out of them.

9. Some of our schools received awards and high rankings from different entities. Yet there’s concern when drilling into details: at SHS, only 24 out of 100 students were recently found to be college ready, according to U.S. News & World report. I applaud our PTECH program providing experience and inspiration for students’ success in the economy.

10. That any candidate who did not support the last two levies does not support the schools, wants schools closed and class sizes increased. This is fear mongering spread based on misinformation.

My response is that attending board meetings provides me with the information to cast an informed vote, and I recommend it to everyone.

11. Citizen involvement in their government. An engaged citizen is what makes our system work. That means informing yourself on the issues and candidates and turning out to vote.

12. Will you vote your constituents’ interests regardless of what the school administration or other trustees may propose, or adjust your vote in favor of board cohesiveness?

I’ve observed trustees clearly in doubt about the wisdom of an issue, but vote for it anyway. This is troubling and doesn’t inspire confidence in trustees’ commitment or judgment.